Wood-bending machine.



H. W. BASON. WOOD BENDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED APR. 3, 1009.

954,848. Patented Apr. 12, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INVENTOR- H. W. BASON. WOOD BBNDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED APR. 3,1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Apr. 12,1910.

WITNESSES:

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UNITE STATES ATENT HENRY WILLIAM BASON, OF MEBANE, NORTH CAROLINA,ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE AS- SIGNMENTS, TO AMERICAN BENT WOODOI-IAIR COMPANY,OF OTEGO, NEW YORK,

A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

VVOOD-BENDING MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY W'ILLIAM BASON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at the city of Hebane, in the county of Alamance andState of North Carolina, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Wood-Bending Machines, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to wood bending machinery, and the object of myinvention-is to provide a machine for bending wood particularly adaptedfor use in the manufacture of bent wood chairs. I attain this object bymeans of the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section. Fig. 2 is a side elevation.Fig. 3 is a sectional view of fastening means for frame.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In order to bend the rails to make the bows and legs for the back andsupport of a chair it is necessary to steam the rails, in order to makethem pliable. I have a former, A, which is hollow and into which,through the pipe, B, steam may be introduced, the outlet pipe, C,forming a drip.

The former, A, is provided with a series of corrugations, D, and intoone of these corrugations, D, at the top of the former, A, I place therail, E, which will occupy the position shown by dotted line in Fig. 1.In order to cause the rail, E, to conform to the contour of the former,A, I cause the rollers, F and G, one on each side of the medial line ofthe former, A, to engage the rail E. The roller, F, is mounted toreciprocate in the slot, f, in the frame, M. On the bolt, h, whichcarries the roller F, I place one end of the link, J, which may be heldin position on the bolt by the spring, j, and nut is. The other end ofthe bolt, h, eX- tending into the slot, f, is provided wit-h a suitablenut or head, m. The link, J, being attached to the lever, L, which leveris fulcrumed at 1 to the frame, M.

I arrange on the side of the machine, opposite the location of thelever, L, roller F and connections, a similar lever, 5, roller G andlink 3, mounted as described in reference to the first mentioned roller,link, 1ever etc.

When the rail, E, is placed in one of the corrugations, D, on theformer, A, beneath Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 3, 1909.

Patented Apr. 12, 1910.

Serial No. 487,679.

the rollers, F and G, the operator draws down the levers, causing therollers to force the rail around the former, A, acting thereupon untilthe rollers assume the position shown by the roller G in Fig. 1. Therail, E, is then, when both rollers are in the position shown by theroller, G, in Fig. 1, curved about the former A in the shape of the backof a chair.

For the purpose of causing rail E to be forced toward the center line ofthe former, A, from the position it is shown to be in at the left ofFig. l, I provide a rod, N, operating in a suitable groove, n, in theframe, M, to which is attached a link, 0, connected by the bell cranklever, P, fulcrumed at, p, and operated by a pedal, Q, connected by arod, g, with one arm of the bell crank lever, P, whereby pressure on thepedal, Q, will cause the rod, N, which engages the rail E to be forcedtoward the former A, and when placed in position connecting with theformer, as shown on the right of Fig. 1, a catch, R, is turned to causeits arms, 1,to engage with the rail E and hold it in position againstthe former A. The catch, It, being preferably a forked shaped blockfastened in a slot, S, (formed in the side of the former, A, beingprotected by the interiorly projecting wall, S by nut, 8, on the shank,S, thereof. The forked prongs, 1", of the catch, R, are adapted toengage the rail E. The rail is now locked securely to the former, andthe eflect of the heat from the former causes the rail to be dried inits bent position, where it is held until it may be removed from theformer without having a tendency to spring out of its bent and formedposition.

In order to place a second rail in position on the former, A, it isnecessary to move the frame, M, and its connections longitudinally ofthe former, in order that the next rail may engage one of thecorrugations, D, thereon. To accomplish this I mount the frame, M, uponthe casting T, upon which casting it reciprocates. The rack, U, engagingwith the pinion, V, operated by the wheel W, causing the frame, M, to bemoved along the casting T.

It is understood that the former, A, and its connections are supportedupon a suitable table, here shown as casting, T, provided with legs, Y,in order that the base of the frame may be suitably raised above thefloor to permit of convenient operation of the pedals and the movementof the pinion beneath the table. It will also be understood that on eachside of the former, A, I have a rod, N, link, 0, and bell crank lever,P, rod, Q, pedal Q and connections.

On each side of the frame, M, I provide a guide, Z, near the bottom ofthe frame which tends to give the end of the rail, I), the proper curvein its position on the former A.

For the purpose of retaining'the frame in its position on the rack, U,during the bending process, I place a spring bolt, l, Fig. 3, passingthrough the frame, M, and the casting, T, through the openings, 6,therein, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 8.

I do not wish to limit myself to the contour of the former, as I mayvary that to suit the requirements of the article to be constructed, andI do not wish to limit myself to the means of causing the rail to beforced into position on the former, as many similar means foraccomplishing this result might be employed without departing from thespirit of my invention.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a wood bending machine; a former provided with a series ofcorrugations adapted to receive a series of rails for making the bowsand legs for the back and support for a chair; a means for conducting aheating element thereto; a means for conducting the drip therefrom; asupport for said former; a frame adjustably mounted on said support; amechanical means for moving said frame longitudinally of said former; apair of levers pivoted to said frame above and substantially in a linewith the medial line of said former; a link attached to each lever andto a bolt movable in a curved slot in the frame on each side thereof; aroller mounted on each bolt adapted to engage a rail placed on saidformer; a pair of rods mounted on each side of said former in saidframe; bell crank levers pivoted to said frame; links connecting saidbell crank levers to said rods, respectively; pedal rods connecting saidbell crank levers; pedals at tached to said pedal rods, respectively; apair of catches mounted in said former on each side thereof; each catchprovided with prongs adapted to hold the rail in contact with the formerafter it has been forced in connection therewith by the action of saidrods, substantially as described.

2. In a wood bending machine, a former provided with a series ofcorrugations; a means for heating said former; a frame; a table adaptedto support said former; a means for adjustably mounting said frame inconnection with said table; a pair of levers mounted in said framesubstantially above the medial line of said former; rollers mounted totravel in curved paths, respectively, in said frame; a means for movingsaid rollers in their curved paths by the operation of said levers,respectively; rods mounted in said frame on each side of said former;pedals on each side of said frame; bell crank levers mounted in saidframe operated by said pedals; means for connecting said bell cranklevers with said rods, respectively; a pair of arms mounted on each sideof the frame adjacent to the former adapted to guide the ends of therail when forced in contact with the former by said rods; a rack mountedbeneath said table; a pinion engaging said rack; a shaft mounted in saidframe carrying said pinion; a wheel on said shaft adapted to operatesaid pinion; substantially as described.

3. In a wood bending machine; a former piovided with means forsupporting a se ries of rollers; a means for conducting the heatingelement to said former; a table upon which said former is mounted; aframe adj ustably mounted in connection with said table; a lever mountedin said frame; a roller mounted in said frame; a means for causing saidroller to move in connection with the work placed on said former in acurved path by the operation of said lever; a rod mounted in said frame;a pedal; a means for connecting said pedal with said rod by theoperation of which pedal said rod is pressed against the work after ithas been operated on by said roller and forces it in contact with saidformer; a rack attached to said table; a pinion mounted in said frameadapted to engage said rack; a means for operating said pinion, wherebythe frame may be moved along said former; a a spring bolt mounted insaid frame and adapted to engage suitable opening in the table to holdthe frame in its position on said rack during the bending operation ofthe machine.

4%. In a wood bending machine; a former provided with a series ofcorrugations thereon; a means for conveying steam to said former; atable upon which said former is mounted; a frame adjustably connectedwith said table; levers pivoted in said frame above said former;rollers; bolts upon which said rollers are mounted moving in curvedpaths in said frame adjacent to said levers, respectively; a means forconnecting said bolts with said levers, respectively; a means mounted insaid frame, on each side of said former, for engaging the work after ithas been bent over said former and forcing it in contact with saidformer; said means put in operation by pedals; said pedals mounted insaid frame; a means engaging said table and said frame whereby the framemay be moved longitudinally of said former.

5. In a wood bending machine; a former;

a means for heatin said former; a table upon which said former ismounted; a frame adjustably connected with said table and extending overa portion of said former; a lever attached to said frame; a rollermounted in connection with said frame; a means for operating said rollerin a curved path by said lever; a rod mounted in said frame; a bellcrank lever mounted in said frame connected with said rod; a

pedal connected with one arm of said bell crank lever, whereby said rodmay be forced in contact with the work on the former; a catch adapted tohold said work in contact with the former; a means for causing saidframe to move on said table; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

HENRY WILLIAM BASON.

Witnesses:

Lo'r'rm PRIOR, FREDERICK WV. CAMERON.

